(201) Magazine Blogs

Monday, January 14, 2013

Lundqvist working to be ready despite no preseason games; Torts says Kreider’s spot not secure

Day 2 of the Rangers’ training camp ended with a hard, conditioning skate, not quite like the gassers that usually open training camp but certainly a good gauge of players’ conditioning. Let’s just say a few tongues were wagging at the end.

“I think some guys have struggled a little bit through it but, for some, it was a better day,” said coach John Tortorella, who characterized yesterday’s practice as having good energy at the beginning but then quickly waning. “And that’s what we hope, we just hope we keep getting better each day.”

One amusing sight during the scrimmage was Brian Boyle and Derek Stepan being asked to switch jerseys as they prepared for a faceoff. So the 6-foot-7 Boyle went from a White practice jersey that fit his frame to a blue one that barely reached his waist. Boyle’s first timee, White, was leading 2-0 at the time of the trade.

A quick update on a couple of Connecticut (AHL) players: left wing Marek Hrivik, who would have been in the Rangers’ camp before suffering a concussion, is still out but the organization is not worried about a long-term absence. And the organization is very high on the 21-year-old Slovakian, signed out of Moncton (QMJHL). Meanwhile, former first-rounder Dylan McIlrath still needs development time after missing a good chunk of the season with a dislocated kneecap. He’s working with assistant coach Jeff Beukeboom, a perfect role model for the bruising McIlrath, but the organization believes McIlrath just needs more time on the ice to develop. Being suspended for a game shortly after returning from the injury didn’t help.

Speaking of the Whale, Tortorella made it very clear today that Chris Kreider does not have a roster spot secured. More on that below the break.

Meanwhile, goalie Henrik Lundqvist does not appear to have lost any of his lightning-fast reflexes, though Lundqvist said getting ready for this season will be tougher than most since there are no preseason games.

“I think when it comes to the game situation, you just need to play to feel comfortable so I think the biggest challenge I think is just to get to a level where you feel really comfortable making good decisions without playing any exhibition games,” Lundqvist said. “Normally I feel I need a couple of games to get my game where it needs to be. But I’m going to do whatever I can to reach that level as soon as possible but I’m sure it’s going to take a few games at least. I’ve been seeing a lot of pucks, it’s just making good decisions under pressure and you have more speed out there. That’s something I need to get used to and more comfortable with and that’s why you need to play too, you need to be out there. You learn from your game so much. When you play you realize you need to work on this, you need to improve on this. Just to have something to look at. Obviously I’m going to look at old tapes and remind myself what I have to do out there.”
======================================================
Follow me on Twitter at twitter.com/AGrossRecord
Follow the Record Sports Staff at twitter.com/TheRecordSports

Tortorella said the team’s philosophy in terms of using Lundqvist and backup Marty Biron (who is does not appear as quick in the drills being conducted by goalie coach Benoit Allaire) will not change. Tortorella is certainly not going to give out a goalie schedule in terms of starts but, in a 48-game season, he stated the obvious by saying Biron wasn’t going to play 20-plus games.

“It won’t change much,” Tortorella said of how the goalies are used. “(Biron is) not going to play, I think he played 20-plus last year, he won’t play that. But the same philosophy will go into it. We felt it helped Marty, we felt it helped the team and more importantly it helped Hank to get the proper practice time with Ben and not rely on continually playing. It’s going to change the numbers but our philosophy will stay the same.”

At the same time, and while repeating that he’s no goalie expert, Tortorella acknowledged getting his goalies ready this season will be a difficult challenge because of the 113-day lockout and the six-day training camp without preseason games. As Lundqvist said, only game situations can adequately prepare goalies for game situations.

“I would think, just to have people around them, situation screens,” Tortorella said. “We’re trying to simulate it as best we can but that’s a unique position. I would think that preseason games would help them more but all the goalies, 60-plus goalies, they don’t have it. I have full faith in what Hank does and Marty does and what Ben does with them that he’ll be ready to play.

As mentioned in today’s previous blog entry, Kreider skated with Jeff Halpern and Taylor Pyatt today. Kreider struggled with five goals, seven assists and a minus-6 in 33 games with Connecticut (AHL). A major point of emphasis this season for Kreider has been to improve defensively.

Tortorella said just because Kreider is one of the 22 in training camp, he shouldn’t expect that automatically means he’ll be on Saturday’s opening roster in Boston.

Not that Tortorella believes Kreider is making that assumption.

“Not at all, and that’s one thing that Chris handled himself so very well in a unique situation,” Tortorella said, referring to Kreider coming right out of Boston College in the spring and onto the Rangers’ postseason roster. “There better not be any illusions and I don’t think there is. These are processes all players go through and he has some gifts to him and we’re hoping they come to the forefront.

“Chris is still fighting for a spot, I’m not sure exactly what the roster is going to be. Hags (Carl Hagelin) is more planted into our roster. This is just the 22 we have right now and we’ll see how it all shakes out and what happens down in Hartford.

“It’s his whole game,” Tortorella added of Kreider. “He’s a kid who came in, played some good games and was God awful in some games in the playoffs and that’s what you expect out of a kid so we want him to work on all parts of his game and then we’ll see where it goes from there. You get on the ice, you’ve got to help the team defensively, you can’t hurt them. I thought he practiced very well today so we’re anxious to keep on progressing with him and see where he falls within our lineup and organization.”

Asked about having just 22 players in camp - 12 forwards, eight defensemen and two goalies - Tortorella said, “These are the 22 we wanted to start with, I’m not sure what’s going to happen with injuries. We also need to get our team reps and I don’t want too many people here. We’ll see how it all works out the next four, five days.”

One player who has not been on the ice so far in training camp is Brad Richards, out with what the team is calling flu-like symptoms.

Maybe a player other than Richards would raise more alarms with Tortorella in terms of falling behind (say, if Michael Del Zotto had missed time due to not having a contract instead of signing early Sunday morning). But Tortorella and Richards have a long history together.

“He’s done his work,” Tortorella said. “Yeah, we want him. I’m always concerned when players aren’t here. We’re doing a lot of concept stuff. But Richie knows our concept, he was one of the guys who spent that a lot of time during the lockout taking care of business, his conditioning. Do we want him here? Yes. Is it a major concern? No. But we’d like to get to try and get him here as quickly as possible, just to get him with some linemates, I guess that’s my biggest concern.”

One of those linemates is expected to be Rick Nash, the high-scoring former Blue Jacket.

So far, Tortorella is thrilled with what he sees.

“I think he’s at a point in his career where this is the next step in his game,” Tortorella said. “He comes to a bigger market, more pressure put on him, trying to find his way to produce in the playoffs. I think we have him at a perfect time, perfect age. He handled himself very well at Columbus, he’s been a hell of a player for them. This is a different stage for him. I think this is perfect timing for Nash and the Ranger organization to have him here in his career.”

Another potential linemate for Richards and Nash is Hagelin.

“Just to keep improving, we want to see him score,” Tortorella said of where Hagelin stands. “Hags has changed our team since we brought him up, he’s changed the dynamic of our team and does a lot of good things with some of our top players as far as chasing down the puck. But I just want Hags to believe he can score goals, too. This is one of the conversations we had at the end of last year. Hopefully he’ll be able to kill more penalties for us this year and keep progressing as a player.”

Honestly I don’t get where all this hype around Kreider is coming from. I haven’t seen anything really special yet. I hope I am wrong. Also I think for all that size he really lacks that edge or mean streak. He is not the type that would fight or hit everything that moves. Doesn’t even look like the type that would enjoy blocking shots.

He kinda reminds me of Lundmark and Korpikoski.

Posted by Tortaturd on 01/14 at 10:01 PM

“He kinda reminds me of Lundmark and Korpikoski.”

Lundmark and Korpikoski are not the same player—not even close. I would be really happy to have Korpikoski back on the team a hardworking, no-nonsense, twenty goal scorer with speed. What’s not to like. Also, Kreider may end up being a 2nd/3rd line guy who scores 15-25 goals a year, but he’s fast, smart and I remember a lot of big hits in the playoffs last year. He may not be another Bobby Ryan but he’s a good player to have on the team.

Posted by RW on 01/14 at 10:31 PM

My God, I hope he doesn’t fight too much. His job is to keep defenses on their toes with his speed and I have to agree RW, I remember him in the playoffs making d’men pay with some good hits along the boards. He’s got an edge, but don’t expect him to play like a 3rd/4th liner.

Posted by CJ on 01/14 at 10:37 PM

I see Bob is in mid-season form already. Kreider is going to be a contributor to this team for years to come. He has top 6 talent. There will be ups and downs, since his NHL career has comprised of 18 games (all playoffs). He will be inconsistent, but there is plenty of talent and he has already displayed the proper frame of mind and the proper work ethic to succeed.

If Kreider falters, there is no time in the shortened season to baby him along or wait out the problem, however, so he needs to show that he belongs early on.

But he has scored some big goals for this team already, and I only hope that those were a sign of things to come for a long, long time.

Posted by coachrd on 01/14 at 10:56 PM

By the way, Bob, Kreider is far better than Lundmark and Korpikoski.

Posted by coachrd on 01/14 at 10:58 PM

Give the guy 1/2 a season before you start stereotyping him. He has excelled at every level. Jamie Lundmark, good grief.

Posted by Rranger on 01/14 at 10:58 PM

Not like there are a ton of other potentially dynamic options in Hartford right now anyways. I do worry that playing with Boyle and Pyatt might not help Kreider’s offensive game all that much however

Posted by Pete on 01/15 at 12:48 AM

Pete—do you have kreider in a fantasy team?
what is it with you and rookies. the team has given plenty of young guys chances to be a big difference. as a reference see our defense.

1st of all injuries will happen probably

2nd of all he’s barely out of college

3rd - if he outshines say a hagelin he’ll be moved up in the lineup

finally - its about the team winning not player A’s stats

Posted by JJ on 01/15 at 01:22 AM

LETS GO BRUINS! Don’t worry gaborick can play for our team next year, we don’t bench our star players for not playing goalie. Hahahahahahahaha RANGERS SUCK!

Posted by rick gash on 01/15 at 01:39 AM

Somebody just woke up the village idiot I see.

Posted by CJ on 01/15 at 01:47 AM

Any news on Sauer? Not whether he’ll be playing this year; we know that’s not happening. I’m just wondering whether he’s shown any improvement, if only in his daily life. Regardless of whether he plays another NHL game in his lifetime, I’d like for him to be able to lead a normal life and not wind up like his brother.

Posted by Kathe on 01/15 at 01:55 AM

“By the way, Bob, Kreider is far better than Lundmark and Korpikoski.”

When those 2 were Kreider’s age we all thought very highly of them as well.

I won’t buy into this hype until I see results and a skill display. Just because a guy has great speed and size does not mean he will be a very good top 6 forward.

Posted by Tortaturd on 01/15 at 02:06 AM

Kathe - No specific news on Sauer, but they’ve said that they aren’t counting on him coming back this season.

And since he’s an RFA this summer…I’m going to guess he’ll be non-tendered.

Shame…

Posted by DaveB on 01/15 at 02:21 AM

So why not wait and see instead of passing premature judgement as you are bob. The operative word being wait. This would be a non topic if you weren’t being a negative nancy.

I mean, his display in the playoffs alone put him far ahead if everyone you’ve mentioned. You’ve said you haven’t seen him display skill yet. Did you have a pulse during the playoffs last year? Or were you boycotting the team because of your distain for torts? I mean, exactly whe else have you had the opportunity to see him prove anything to you. It’s like your basing your insights on ahl stat sheets and not on every NHL scout out there and every national analyst discussing last years jump onto the team and immediately earning more ice

Give us all a break

Don’t say anything till we all witness at least a season with the youngster. Or if that’s too long. How bout waiting a couple weeks?

Posted by Craig on 01/15 at 03:15 AM

I agree, Kreider didn’t single-handedly lead the Rangers to the Cup in his first postseason after stepping right into the highest level of play in the world directly from college; and even though he is supposed to be a scorer for the Rangers he doesn’t fight, so we should just start comparing him to failed 3rd/4th liners.

Forget that in quite a few of the playoff games he was one of the Rangers’ best, if not their best forward, and that he got 5 goals in fewer than 20 games, despite playing less than 5-7 minutes in many of the games. He will probably suck because they didn’t win the cup right away. We should just bring back Ray Ferraro.

Posted by desack on 01/15 at 03:23 AM

And I was one advocating to not bring him in last year and wait for seasoning. He proved me way wrong then and I was very impressed. Quickly changed my tune.

Posted by Craig on 01/15 at 03:23 AM

bob says things for effect and controversy. he casts the bait in the water and many of us (definitely myself amongst) take that bait and away we go

Posted by JJ on 01/15 at 03:38 AM

I did not give up on Kreider, just wanted to share my thoughts. Hopefully I am way wrong on him.

“bob says things for effect and controversy. he casts the bait in the water and many of us (definitely myself amongst) take that bait and away we go”

no, you just described yourself.

Posted by Tortaturd on 01/15 at 05:09 AM

definitely not bob

i’ve seen you go the way of the wind if you think most like this or that you go against. and if people change to other side so do you.

i’ve been pretty clear on which players and posters i like and don’t like. and as far as the players i don’t like the main culprits are gone. so life is good.

the way i see it i nailed it on you and what makes you tick re posting

Posted by JJ on 01/15 at 05:22 AM

“i’ve seen you go the way of the wind if you think most like this or that you go against”

and I have seen you piss on your face because you piss against the wind.

“i’ve been pretty clear on which players and posters i like and don’t like. and as far as the players i don’t like the main culprits are gone. so life is good.

the way i see it i nailed it on you and what makes you tick re posting”

So let me get this straight, now that Dubi and whoever else you hate is gone, now you will be bitching about me the entire season (or what’s left of it)?

Posted by Tortaturd on 01/15 at 05:50 AM

Another topic. Man do I hate the oilers right now and the draft rules in general. How is it legal to get rewarded with 3 number one picks in a row just because you sucked bad enough. Sold out at multiple trade deadlines and your new franchise players just haven’t gotten out of diapers yet?

Just like how the penguins built their franchise the past 8 years with Sid malkin staal and fleury right in a row surrounding last lockout

Posted by Craig on 01/15 at 06:40 AM

“So let me get this straight, now that Dubi and whoever else you hate is gone, now you will be bitching about me the entire season (or what’s left of it)?”

... or the Islanders not moving to Quebec, or the Devils’ fans, or this site’s lack of registration guidelines, or his own cleft palate, or any number of annoying things.

Posted by meccaleccahimeccahineyho on 01/15 at 06:56 AM

re the poster at 12:56

can’t you find a bluejacket board to post on

and if you did how many names would disappear from here and newsday as far as posters names

About

ANDREW GROSS covers the New York Rangers for The Record and Herald News, having joined the North Jersey Media Group in November 2007. Gross also covered the Rangers and New York Jets, as well as St. John’s basketball and Army football, for Gannett Newspapers and The Journal News (N.Y.). He graduated from Syracuse University in 1989 with a degree in newspaper journalism.